Children’s groups call for better rights
Non-governmental organisations have demanded more action from the authorities to make progress on the issue of children's rights.
Their protest, which was backed by around 400 children, took place in Bern on Monday to mark ten years of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Switzerland.
The children symbolically handed over to federal government and cantonal representatives stones engraved with their visions of children’s rights.
Child Rights Network Switzerland, which includes about 50 NGOs, is calling for more protection, encouragement and involvement of children in society.
The organisation cited a survey carried out by the Terre des Hommes charity among 3,200 children and parents.
Less than one in ten knew that the convention set out in an official document the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of children. Many people believed the convention did not concern Switzerland.
The network said the results confirmed that there was a lack of will on the part of the government and the 26 cantons to put the convention into practice.
Action
There was, for example, no office which coordinated the activities of the cantons on the issue.
The organisation called for a national plan of action in Switzerland, which lagged behind neighbours Germany and Austria.
It highlighted divorce cases, in which children have a right by law to voice their opinions.
The Network urged schools to give children more of a say in the running of daily activities.
Parents should also be encouraged to share their authority on questions that affected children.
Refugees
For its part, the non-governmental Swiss Refugee Council called for measures to improve the status of under age asylum seekers.
Children should be interviewed by specially trained experts and be able to receive the necessary care. Under age asylum seekers must in principle not be jailed, according to a statement.
The Federal Social Insurance Office sees a more positive picture of the way the convention is being implemented in Switzerland.
It argued that the legal situation and living conditions of children had improved over the past decade. It cited improvements in maternity leave and the standardisation of family benefits.
However, the federal office admitted there was room for improvement. It is to hand in a report to the government later this year outlining better coordination possibilities.
swissinfo with agencies
Child Rights Network Switzerland was set up in 2003.
The 25 founders of the network agreed to promote cooperation and raise awareness of the rights of the child.
Switzerland was the 190th country to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1997.
Parliament approved the convention despite opposition by rightwingers.
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